Trailer conveyor system and method

Abstract

Trailer trolley-type conveyor system, comprising a plurality of the elongated rails adapted for installation on a trailer bed, a conveyor system frame adapted for transport back and forth along the rails within a trailer's exterior framework, a plurality of wheels mounted on the frame and adapted for rolling carriage of the frame on the rails, at least one winch adapted for mounting onto the trailer and adapted for pulling the frame with any cargo thereon back and forth along the rails; and at least one lock engaged with one of the frame, the wheels, and the rails, adapted for preventing movement of the conveyor system frame during transport of the trailer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A conveyor system adapted for installation on a lower deck of a standard automobile hauling trailer, comprising:
 a plurality of rails adapted for installation on the lower deck of the standard automobile hauling trailer;   a frame adapted for transport back and forth along said rails within the trailer's exterior framework;   a plurality of roller wheels mounted on said frame and adapted for rolling carriage of said frame on said rails;   at least one winch adapted for mounting onto the trailer and adapted for pulling said frame with any cargo thereon back and forth along said rails; and   at least one lock engaged with one of said frame, said wheels, and said rails, adapted for preventing movement of said frame during loading and transport of the trailer.   
     
     
         2 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein said frame comprises a rectangular framework further comprised of cross members, a plurality of plate wheel bays, and at least one welded ring adapted for receiving and tying vehicle wheels onto said frame. 
     
     
         3 . The conveyor system of  claim 2 , wherein said frame further comprises longitudinally extending internal frame cross members of wider width corresponding with the width of forks on forklifts adapted for allowing scraping of front portions of the forks along said frame without catching on or damaging said frame. 
     
     
         4 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one winch comprises a dual-winch system, one winch adapted for pulling said frame forward along the trailer, and another winch adapted for pulling said frame rearward along the trailer. 
     
     
         5 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one lock comprises a forward hitch receiver adapted for mounting on a forward location on the trailer and adapted for receiving and retaining a corresponding forward-facing hitch mounted on said frame for locking said frame in a forward position on the trailer, and a rearward hitch receiver adapted for mounting on a rearward location on the trailer and adapted for receiving and retaining a corresponding rearward-facing hitch mounted on said frame for locking said frame in a rearward position on the trailer. 
     
     
         6 . The conveyor system of  claim 4 , further comprising an automobile hauling-type trailer comprising a lowermost level bed comprising lateral side edges and at least forward external frame members, said rails being fixed adjacent each lateral side edge of said trailer, said frame having forward facing and rearward facing frame portions, further comprising a plurality of pulleys mounted on said trailer, at least one of said plurality of pulleys being fixed underneath the bed of said trailer, another one of said plurality of pulleys being mounted at least partially above the bed of said trailer, said dual-winch system being mounted on the fore frame member of said trailer, a first winch of said dual-winch system being mounted above a second winch, said first winch having a cable attached to the forward facing portion of said frame for pulling said frame forward along said trailer on said rails, said second winch having a cable adapted for being routed with said pulleys from underneath the bed to above the bed and attached to the forward facing portion of said frame, said second winch thus being adapted for pulling said frame rearward along said trailer on said rails. 
     
     
         7 . A conveyor system on a transport trailer, comprising:
 a wheeled trailer having an exterior framework, foreward and aft portions, and adapted for hauling stock on a trailer bed;   a plurality of elongated rails mounted on said trailer's bed within the exterior framework of said trailer;   a frame adapted for transporting stock within the exterior framework of said trailer;   a plurality of wheels mounted on said frame and adapted for rolling carriage of said frame on said rails;   at least one winch adapted for mounting onto the trailer and adapted for pulling said frame with any cargo thereon back and forth along said rails; and   at least one lock engaged with one of said frame, said wheels, and said rails, adapted for preventing movement of said frame during transport of the trailer.   
     
     
         8 . The conveyor system of  claim 7 , wherein said frame comprises a rectangular framework further comprised of cross members, a plurality of plate wheel bays, and at least one welded ring adapted for receiving and tying vehicle wheels onto said frame. 
     
     
         9 . The conveyor system of  claim 8 , wherein said frame further comprises longitudinally extending internal frame cross members of wider width corresponding with the width of forks on forklifts adapted for allowing scraping of front portions of the forks along said frame without catching on or damaging said frame. 
     
     
         10 . The conveyor system of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one winch comprises a dual-winch system, one winch adapted for pulling said frame forward along said trailer, and another winch adapted for pulling said frame rearward along said trailer. 
     
     
         11 . The conveyor system of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one lock comprises a forward hitch receiver mounted on a forward portion on said trailer and adapted for receiving and retaining a corresponding forward-facing hitch mounted on said frame for locking said frame in a forward position on said trailer, and a rearward hitch receiver mounted on a rearward portion on said trailer and adapted for receiving and retaining a corresponding rearward-facing hitch mounted on said frame for locking said frame in a rearward position on said trailer. 
     
     
         12 . The conveyor system of  claim 11 , wherein said frame further comprises at least a forward facing frame portion, further comprising a plurality of pulleys mounted on said trailer, at least one of said plurality of pulleys being fixed underneath the bed of said trailer, another one of said plurality of pulleys being mounted at least partially above the bed of said trailer, said dual-winch system being mounted on the forward frame member of said trailer, a first winch of said dual-winch system being mounted above a second winch, said first winch having a cable attached to the forward facing portion of said frame for pulling said frame forward along said trailer on said rails, said second winch having a cable adapted for being routed with said pulleys from underneath the bed to above the bed and attached to the forward facing portion of said frame, said second winch thus being adapted for pulling said frame rearward along said trailer on said rails.